Asean Morning News For December 21

Asean Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Second China-Asean entrepreneurs forum seeks more investment opportunities, mutual cooperation
The forum was held on December 8-9 at the Empark Grand Hotel in Kunming, Yunnan Province, under the themes ‘Jointly Progressing on Innovation-Driven Ground’ and ‘Embracing a New Economic Era in Asia’.
— Eleven Myanmar

Mekong Subregion members meet over river blasting concerns
A meeting of the foreign ministers under a Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) agreement has addressed environmental concerns in the international river.
— NBT World (video)

All Decorum Lost as Thais Battle Asean Winter Chill (video)
The Asean winter has hit the region with a vengeance sending temperatures plummeting to single digits in rural locations and the low teens in major cities.
— AEC News Today

Government, Asean in talks to take IMT highway up to Vietnam
The government is in talks with Asean countries to extend the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) highway up to Vietnam, a senior official said today. India and Asean countries are holding consultations on the extension of the 1,360 km IMT highway — from Moreh in India to Mae-Sot in Thailand — to Laos, Cambodia and to Vietnam, she said.
— Open Development

Most South-east Asians have positive view of Asean
Most South-east Asians feel that people born and raised in the region have a lot in common, a recent survey found.
— New Straits Times

MRC predicts up to 70 percent cut of fisheries production across Mekong basin from hydropower production
Dam construction in the Mekong river will likely deal a serious economic blow to Cambodia, with dire outlooks for fisheries and rice production even under best case scenario, The Phnom Penh Post Online reported on Wednesday (Dec 20) referring to a study of the Mekong River Commission which is due to be published in January.
— Thai PBS

China builds high-speed railway to ASEAN
China has started construction work on a high-speed railway to reach Southeast Asian nations, Xinhua News Agency reported.
— Vietnam Plus

Ties with ASEAN not influenced by any third country: India
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Myanmar acts as a bridge with ASEAN countries which is why India has initiated the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project that includes the India-Myanmar-Thailand tri-lateral highway.
— Moneycontrol

ASEAN consumer companies’ profit growth to double to 13.6% in 2018
The year ahead is one of recovery for ASEAN consumer companies as earnings growth are projected to double to 13.6% in 2018 after a bleak year of low margins and slow sales, according to Regional Industry Focus from DBS Group Research.
— SBR

The ASEAN Foundation and SAP extend strategic collaboration
The ASEAN Foundation and SAP SE announced the continuation of their strategic collaboration into 2018, following a successful collaboration in its first year to bring about social impact in ASEAN. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ASEAN Foundation and SAP, both organizations will jointly roll out initiatives under two strategic pillars next year, namely Education and Entrepreneurship.
— Tempo

Opportunities and challenges in ASEAN: Up, close and personal with SAP’s Claus Andresen
Here is a Computerworld Malaysia ‘rapid-fire’ interview with SAP’s new Southeast Asia (SEA) president and managing director Claus Andresen.
— Mis Asia

PH a prime investment destination in SE Asia
The Philippine delegation at the 5th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Connectivity Forum in Seoul, Korea was able to highlight the country’s attractiveness “as one of the most viable investment destinations in ASEAN,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.
— Inquirer

Auto prices not to fall despite zero ASEAN tariff
There is great anticipation that automobile prices in Vietnam will decrease by 10-15 percent in the case of older models and 5-10 percent in the case of new models as automobile import tariffs are cut to zero under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement which takes effect in January 2018.
— Vietnam Net

Vietnam co-chairs ASEAN regional forum seminar on UN peacekeeping
The seminar was launched by Vietnam under co-chair of Canada and South Korea. It attracted delegates from 26 countries, representatives of European Union, the United Nations Peacekeeping Department in Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and functional agencies of Defense Ministry.
— Saigon Online

Cambodia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Hun Sen’s New Year Gift: Universal Healthcare For All Cambodia Employees
While Cambodia-focused media and human rightists have been focusing on the country’s slide from democracy a funny thing happened… universal healthcare for all workers in the Cambodia formal employment sector.
— AEC News Today

China’s Alipay signs partnership deal with Cambodia’s Pi Pay
China’s Alipay, the world’s largest online and mobile payment platform, signed a partnership agreement on Wednesday with Cambodia’s Pi Pay, allowing customers to use their Alipay wallets to pay at Pi Pay’s Point of Sale payment systems across Cambodia.
— Xinhua

Cambodia Buys Electricity from Laos
Electricite Du Cambodge (EDC) has signed an agreement with Electricite Du Laos (EDL) to temporary buy electricity from Laos in response to electricity shortages in Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom and Oddar Meanchey provinces.
— Fresh News

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Indonesia Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Indonesia fines Danone affiliate $1 million for unfair business practices
Indonesia’s anti-monopoly agency has imposed a $1 million fine on bottled water producer PT Tirta Investama, which is affiliated to French firm Danone, for resorting to unfair business competition practices.
— Reuters

Indonesia to allow tarrif-free import of some Palestinian goods
Indonesia will allow tariff-free imports and give direct market access to some Palestinian goods beginning in the new year, the Indonesian trade minister said Wednesday.
— Daily Star

Xiaomi launches smartphone for entry-level market
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi officially launched on Wednesday its latest smartphone, the Redmi 5A, a product that targets the entry-level market in Indonesia.
— The Jakarta Post

See here for more of today’s Indonesia Morning News

Lao PDR Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Laos, Vietnam vow to cement bilateral ties
Lao and Vietnamese leaders have vowed to work together to further cement the special relations between the two neighbours as Laos’ top leader pays an official goodwill visit to Vietnam.
— Vientiane Times

Japan Helps Improve Woodworking Skills of Lao Trainers
Japan International Cooperation Agency has provided US$ 250,577 through the International Cooperation NGO IV-Japan to support the Project for Improving Skills of Woodworking Trainers of Vocational Education Schools in Laos.
— Lao News Agency

Education sector gets more than half of 2018 civil servant intake
More than half of the 3,000 new civil servants who will be hired in 2018 will be allocated to the Ministry of Education and Sports, a senior official has said.
— Vientiane Times

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Malaysia Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

EU hails Malaysia for passing dangerous drugs Bill
The European Union (EU) delegation to Malaysia has praised the government for passing the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2017.
— Malay Mail Online

Westports hit with RM60m customs bill
Westports Holdings Bhd’s unit Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd has received several bills of demands totalling RM59.5mil from the Royal Malaysian Customs.
— The Star Online

Stateless Rohingya to get digital IDs with blockchain
Stateless Rohingya who fled Myanmar are set to receive digital identity cards using blockchain technology in a pilot project seeking to help them access services like banking and education.
— Free Malaysia Today

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Myanmar Morning News

Compiled by Kongleaphy Keam @kongleaphy1

Myanmar: UN human rights investigator barred from entering country amid Rohingya crisis
The UN independent investigator into human rights in Myanmar has called for stronger international pressure to be exerted on Myanmar’s military commanders after being barred from visiting the country for the rest of her tenure.
— ABC News

Two Missing Reuters Journalists Will Face Court Soon, Myanmar Says
A spokesman for Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday he had been informed that the police had almost completed their investigation of two arrested Reuters journalists, after which a court case against them would begin.
— Time (video)

Ten bodies found in Myanmar mass grave: army
Myanmar’s army said it found 10 corpses in a mass grave in a largely Rohingya village in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state, the epicentre of a violent military crackdown that triggered a mass exodus of the Muslim minority.
— Mizzima

Philippines Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Certain provisions in budget, TRAIN face Duterte veto
President Duterte might veto some provisions in the 2018 national budget and the tax reform act.
— Philstar

San Miguel buys Philippine power firm for $1.9B
Top Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp said Tuesday it has bought a power plant for $1.9 billion, adding to its burgeoning electricity generation assets.
— GMA Network

Philippines’ PLDT plans record $1 bln capex as telco competition rises
Philippine telecoms firm PLDT Inc will put aside a record high of at least 50 billion pesos ($994 million) for capital expenses next year as it braces for the arrival of a telco competitor, the company’s chairman said on Wednesday.
— Reuters

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Singapore Morning News

Compiled by Leakhena Khat @leakhenakhat

Singapore Government requested details of 263 Facebook accounts
In all, 204 requests – some seeking information on more than one account – were made between January and June, Facebook said in its Transparency Report released on Monday.
— The New Paper

Singapore hands life ban to banker in 1MDB-linked cases
Singapore yesterday banned a jailed banker from working in its financial services industry for life over his links to the international money-laundering scandal involving neighbouring Malaysia’s state fund 1MDB.
— The Borneo Bulletin

Singapore’s healthcare sector to face strong pricing competition from neighboring countries
Singapore’s healthcare sector is expected to face strong pricing competition from neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia and Thailand where patients are able to also receive quality medical treatment at a faction of the cost as compared to Singapore due to the much lower treatment, drug and room costs.
— The Edge Singapore

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Thailand Morning News

Compiled by John Le Fevre @photo_journ

Policy interest rate retained at 1.5 percent
The Monetary Policy Committee resolved unanimously on Wednesday to retain policy interest rate at 1. 5 percent.
— Thai PBS

Thailand seeks air safety rating upgrade by U.S. aviation body
Thailand aims to get its air safety rating upgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by March, the country’s transport minister said on Wednesday, after the FAA downgraded the rating in December 2015.
— Reuters

See here for more of today’s Thailand Morning News

Vietnam Morning News

Compiled by Sreypov Men @MenSreypov

Vietnam to prosecute another former oil executive over mismanagement
Vietnam police on Wednesday ordered the prosecution of a former executive at scandal-hit state energy company PetroVietnam over financial losses, the latest move in a high-level corruption crackdown that has seen a politburo member arrested.
— Reuters

Vietnam’s FDI attraction in 2017 biggest in 10 years
Vietnam is poised to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) of 35 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, the biggest amount over the past 10 years, according to the country’s Foreign Investment Agency on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Cement sector to face oversupply
The country’s cement surplus this year could be 30 million tonnes and reach 35 million tonnes by 2020 if Vietnam does not export cement.
— VietnamPlus

See here for more of today’s Vietnam Morning News

Asean Morning News is the most comprehensive selection of reports on what you need to know from around the Asean Economic Community (AEC) published. All articles are hand curated by the team at AEC News Today. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.